Federation Of Family History Societies

TNA launch 1911 Census Request Service

 

On 19th December, we advised you that the Information Commissioner had upheld an appeal from a complainant who requested information from the National Archives (TNA) relating to the 1911 census schedules, and required TNA to disclose the requested information to the complainant.

We said that, in response to the Information Commissioner's decision, TNA were working hard to launch a service enabling them to deal with individual requests for some information in the 1911 census, and that this was planned to be made available from 17th January 2007.

Earlier today, the TNA announced that it has launched its Freedom of Information online request service to see entries from the 1911 Census. Requests can be submitted via the web page www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/1911census as an interim system in advance of the digital release of the records. Applications can also be made in writing to TNA, rather than through the online system.

We would remind you however that the 1911 census does not have a name index, so it is only possible to supply information based on an address search. Researchers using this service will currently be charged a non-refundable research fee of £45 that will cover the costs of each search.

Most of us will therefore prefer to wait until 2009. That is when the TNA Press Release (which can be read in full at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/17jan2007.pdf) restates that it is hoping to start to provide online access to the 1911 Census, through an approved partner, with only the personally sensitive data remaining closed until 2012.

The 1911 census records consist of individual householder's schedules, not enumerators books as in previous censuses. With the increase in population as well to over 35 million, the 1911 census is more than 12 times the size of the 1901, and there are also 38,000 volumes of summary books which TNA have agreed will be included. It would therefore be unrealistic to expect TNA to start to progressively deliver online access to the 1911 census before 2009. Even for counties with the least number of households, this will still be a major task if it is to be handled properly and transcribed accurately, which is the FFHS's main concern in its liaison with TNA regarding the 1911 census.

Added to this is the fact that TNA, as a government department, has been compelled to follow strictly the EU directives for contract tendering, which means that the negotiations with the various bidders before TNA can finally choose the approved partner have had to be protracted.

TNA have kindly kept the FFHS informed on progress throughout, and an FFHS representative was even privileged to take part in an interactive session at which the final short-listed candidates each presented their case as to why they should be awarded the contract. We will naturally inform you as soon as we are able to, once the contract has been signed, who the approved partner is.

Geoff Riggs,
Chairman,
Federation of Family History Societies
18 January 2007